Dangerous goods (also referred to as hazardous materials) are substances that pose a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment during their transport, handling, or storage. These goods can be solids, liquids, or gases and may be flammable, toxic, corrosive, reactive, or explosive in nature. Examples include chemicals like ammonia, petroleum products, certain pharmaceuticals, explosives, and even lithium batteries.

Given their potential to cause harm, the proper classification of dangerous goods ensures they are managed and transported safely. This includes selecting the right packaging, labels, and documentation, as well as ensuring appropriate safety measures are in place at every stage of the supply chain.

Sending dangerous goods in New Zealand involves following specific safety regulations and guidelines to ensure the safe and legal transport of hazardous materials. The process involves ensuring proper classification, packaging, labelling, documentation, and choosing the right mode of transport (road, rail, sea, or air). The key regulation for dangerous goods transportation in New Zealand is the Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005, alongside other international standards like the IMDG Code (for sea transport) and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (for air transport). Contact us for more information!

The UN Number is a four-digit code assigned by the United Nations to identify specific dangerous goods. These numbers are designed to provide a standardised, easy-to-understand way of categorising hazardous materials based on their properties, such as flammability, toxicity, or corrosiveness.

Packing Groups (PG) are used to classify dangerous goods based on their level of risk. This classification helps ensure that hazardous materials are packaged, labelled, and transported safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents or environmental damage.

Packing Group I (PG I) – High Danger

Packing Group II (PG II) – Medium Danger

Packing Group III (PG III) – Low Danger

The shipper is ultimately responsible for ensuring the proper handling of dangerous goods. In New Zealand, this includes complying with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO) and the Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005. The shipper must classify, package, label, and document the goods accurately, ensuring they meet New Zealand’s regulations as well as international standards. They are also responsible for completing a Dangerous Goods Declaration, detailing the nature of the materials and how they should be handled.

The carrier—whether it’s a trucking company, shipping line, or airline—takes responsibility for transporting the goods safely. They must ensure that dangerous goods are securely packed, properly labelled with hazard symbols, and handled according to the required regulations. For domestic shipments within New Zealand, carriers must comply with local rules, while international carriers must adhere to global standards like the IMDG Code for sea freight, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for air transport.

Freight forwarders coordinate the logistics of dangerous goods shipments, both within New Zealand and internationally. They ensure that shipments comply with all legal requirements, including routing, customs clearance, and proper documentation. Freight forwarders act as intermediaries between the shipper and the carrier, helping facilitate smooth and compliant transport.

Regulatory bodies, such as NZTA and CAA enforce the rules for dangerous goods transport. They ensure that all parties comply with safety regulations and conduct inspections to monitor compliance.

UN Approved 4G packaging is designed to safely contain and transport dangerous goods while meeting stringent regulatory standards set by the United Nations. This type of packaging is constructed from robust materials, typically corrugated fibreboard, and features specific design elements, such as reinforced corners and secure closures, to withstand the rigours of transportation. 

The Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 2005 is a regulation in New Zealand that provides guidelines for the safe transport of
dangerous goods by road and rail. The rule is part of the country's wider approach to managing hazardous substances and materials in transit, ensuring the safety of people, property, and the environment.

The IMDG Code stands for the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. It is a set of regulations developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which is a specialised agency of the United Nations. The IMDG Code provides guidelines for the safe and secure transport of dangerous goods by sea, with the goal of protecting life, property, and the environment from the risks posed by hazardous materials during shipping.

The IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) are a set of guidelines established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the safe and secure transport of dangerous goods by air. These regulations ensure that hazardous materials are handled, packaged, labelled, and documented correctly when being transported by air, in order to protect the safety of passengers, crew, cargo, and the environment.

UN-approved dangerous goods packaging refers to packaging that has been tested and certified to meet the safety standards set by the United Nations (UN) for the transport of dangerous goods. The goal of this packaging is to ensure that hazardous materials are safely contained during transportation, minimising the risks of leaks, spills, or accidents that could harm people, property, or the environment.

The size of the hazard label should be appropriate for the size of the container or package. Typically, labels are required to be at least 100mm x 100mm in size, although this can vary depending on the packaging. The labels must be placed on all outer surfaces of the container or package where they can be easily seen. If the package is of sufficient size, the hazard label should be placed on opposite sides or adjacent faces of the package.

Limited quantity packaging is a specific type of packaging that is used for small quantities of dangerous goods that meet certain criteria, allowing them to be shipped with less stringent packaging, labelling, and documentation requirements. This is designed to make shipping smaller quantities of hazardous materials more efficient while still maintaining safety.

DGLQ stands for Dangerous Goods in Limited Quantities. This term is used in the context of transporting small quantities of dangerous goods under less stringent regulations compared to full-scale dangerous goods shipments.

In essence, DGLQ (Limited Quantity) packaging allows certain dangerous goods to be shipped in smaller amounts with simplified packaging and labelling requirements. These provisions are designed to make it easier and less expensive to ship smaller quantities of hazardous materials that pose minimal risk when transported.

The responsibility for labelling dangerous goods primarily falls on the shipper or consignor (the person or company sending the goods). However, various parties involved in the transport process have specific roles and responsibilities to ensure that dangerous goods are properly labelled in accordance with the relevant regulations.

A Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) is a formal document required for the shipment of dangerous goods. It provides critical information about the hazardous materials being transported, ensuring that everyone involved in the handling, transport, and delivery is aware of the risks and the proper procedures for safely managing those goods.

The DGD is used by the shipper to declare that the dangerous goods being shipped comply with all relevant regulations for safe transport. It is necessary for international and domestic shipments of hazardous materials across different modes of transport (road, sea, air, rail).

The packing of dangerous goods for transport must be carried out by qualified personnel who are properly trained and knowledgeable about the regulations governing the handling, packaging, and transport of hazardous materials.

There are 9 classes of dangerous goods. These classes are
used to categorize hazardous materials based on their properties and the risks
they pose. Here's a breakdown of the 9 classes:

Class 1 - Explosives

Class 2 - Gases (flammable, non-flammable, and toxic gases)

Class 3 - Flammable liquids

Class 4 - Flammable solids, substances liable to spontaneous
combustion, and substances that, in contact with water, emit flammable gases

Class 5 - Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides

Class 6 - Toxic and infectious substances

Class 7 - Radioactive materials

Class 8 - Corrosive substances

Class 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous goods (substances and
articles that present a hazard during transport but don't fit into the other
classes)

Class 1 dangerous goods are explosives. These materials have the potential to explode, and they can be hazardous during transport, storage, or handling. The classification is divided into different divisions based on the nature of the explosives and the risks they pose. The subdivisions within Class 1 are:

Division 1.1 – Explosives with a mass explosion hazard:

These are explosives that can cause a large-scale explosion with the potential to affect a wide area. For example, dynamite.

Division 1.2 – Explosives with a projection hazard:

These explosives do not cause mass explosions, but they may project fragments,
causing injury or damage. An example could be a rocket or artillery shell.

Division 1.3 – Explosives with a fire or minor explosion hazard:

These materials pose a relatively minor explosion hazard but may cause
fire or other hazards. Examples include fireworks or certain types of
ammunition.

Division 1.4 – Explosives with no significant hazard:

These are substances that present a very limited hazard under normal conditions of
transport. For example, small quantities of ammunition.

Division 1.5 – Very insensitive explosives with a mass explosion hazard:

These explosives are very insensitive and have a mass explosion hazard only under certain extreme conditions.

These materials are unlikely to explode under normal transport conditions and are the least hazardous in the Class 1 category.

Class 2.1 dangerous goods are flammable gases that can ignite and burn when exposed to an ignition source. These gases are typically in a gaseous state at room temperature and pressure but can be stored under pressure to keep them in liquid form.

Common examples of Class 2.1 gases include:

Propane: Used for heating, cooking, and in industrial applications.

Butane: Often found in lighters, camping stoves, and some industrial processes.

Acetylene: Frequently used in welding and cutting applications.

Methane: The primary component of natural gas, used as a fuel and in chemical production.

Class 3 refers to a specific category of dangerous goods that are flammable liquids, meaning they can easily ignite when exposed to heat, sparks, or an open flame. These liquids are characterised by a flashpoint of 60C (140F) or lower. The flashpoint is the lowest temperature at which the liquid produces enough vapour to ignite in the air.

Common examples of Class 3 flammable liquids include:

Gasoline

Diesel

Paints

Alcohols

Acetone

Solvents

Turpentine

Kerosene

Class 4 dangerous goods consist of materials that are at risk of causing fires, explosions, or hazardous reactions under specific conditions. These substances can either catch fire on their own, burn when exposed to heat or friction, or react violently with moisture, air, or other chemicals. As such, Class 4 materials require specialised packaging, labelling, and transport protocols to minimise the risk of accidents during storage, handling, and transport.

The three subclasses under Class 4 dangerous goods include:

Class 4.1 (Flammable Solids)

Class 4.2 (Spontaneously combustible)

Class 4.3 (Substances Which Emit Flammable Gases When Wet)

Class 5.1 dangerous goods are oxidizing substances. These are materials that can cause or enhance the combustion of other materials by providing oxygen or other oxidizing elements, making fires more intense or more likely to start. While they are not necessarily combustible on their own, they can cause or accelerate the burning of other materials.

Class 5.2 dangerous goods are defined by the UN (United Nations) system of classification as organic peroxides. These compounds contain a peroxide group (–O–O–), a bond between two oxygen atoms, which is inherently unstable. The instability of the oxygen-oxygen bond makes organic peroxides highly reactive, and they can decompose violently, especially when exposed to heat, shock, or other environmental factors.

Class 6.1 dangerous goods refer to toxic substances that pose a risk to health when they are transported. These goods can be harmful if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. They can be fatal or cause
serious injury or illness.

Class 6.2 dangerous goods refer to infectious substances that are capable of causing disease in humans or animals. These materials may contain harmful microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, or other biological agents that could lead to infections or diseases when exposed to humans or animals. 

Class 7 dangerous goods are radioactive materials. These substances emit ionising radiation, which can be harmful to living organisms, including humans, if they are not handled or transported properly.

Radioactive materials are classified in this category due to the potential health hazards posed by exposure to radiation. These materials can be found in various forms, including solids, liquids, and gases. They are
used in a wide range of industries, such as medicine (for cancer treatment or diagnostic imaging), research, nuclear energy, and industrial applications.

Class 8 dangerous goods are corrosive substances. These materials can cause severe damage to living tissue, such as skin or eyes, or to other materials they come into contact with. Corrosive substances can be acids, alkalis, or other chemicals that can destroy or irreversibly damage material surfaces and living tissue.

Class 9 dangerous goods are miscellaneous dangerous goods. This category includes substances and materials that do not fall under the other specific classes but still pose a risk during transportation. These goods are hazardous in ways that don't fit the criteria of the other classes (such as flammability, toxicity, or corrosiveness) but still require special handling and packaging due to their potential to cause harm.

We offer fast turnaround times for label and packaging orders. Delivery timelines depend on the quantity and customisation of your order.

Standard orders typically ship within 1 business days, while customised or bulk orders may take a bit longer. We also offer express shipping options if you need your stock urgently.You can always contact us directly to confirm delivery times based on your specific order requirements.

You can place an order for dangerous goods labels or packaging directly through our website or by contacting our customer service team. We’ll need details such as:

• The type and classification of the dangerous goods.
• The quantity of labels needed.
• Number of packages required..

Once we receive your order, we’ll provide a confirmation and estimated delivery time.

If you require a label for a specific hazard that is not available in our standard product range, we can work with you to create a custom label.

Simply contact us with the details of the hazard and any specific regulatory requirements, and we will design a label that meets both your needs and applicable safety standards.

If you receive damaged or incorrect stock, please contact our customer service team as soon as possible. We will work to resolve the issue quickly, whether it means reprinting and reshipping your labels or offering a refund or credit for the error.

Your satisfaction and compliance with regulations are our top priority.